This Blog is about the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Team, the Western Hockey League and hockey in general. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Seattle Thunderbirds or their management, or the Western Hockey League or their management.

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Tyler Hunnex - I started/founded/began Let's Go Birds in September of 2007 after feeling like my favorite Junior Hockey team needed more discussion and analysis. I'm statistically minded, forever frustrated by the Tbirds and my all-time favorite player was #10. I think I'm funny and my writing would probably disagree. Follow me on Twitter @TylerHunnex.

Jon Whiting - Jon joined the Let's Go Birds team in the summer of 2013. His passion for the Thunderbirds is as big as any fan I've ever met. His two kids are named after former Tbirds and his favorite all-time players were Patrick Marleau and Olaf "Ole" Kjenstad, who he swears is the best pure scoring Tbird ever.

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3.29.2011

Coaching Change

I was wrong. It happens...

Seattle today decided to go in another direction and will not renew the contract of Coach Rob Sumner.

I have made no secret of my opinion on this subject. I think Sumner could have done a better job with the teams that he has had but I do not feel like he was the main reason for the failures of this organization, especially in the last two seasons.

So in my mind... this makes Rob Sumner the scapegoat. Having said that, this is a business and the team hasn't performed well (for whatever reason) the past two seasons and the Thunderbirds chose to go in a different direction.

The Union of Victims will be throwing a party at Gators tonight... drinks are on them.

19 comments
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Interesting timing. On one hand it seems like a difficult time to start looking because all the "good" (or succesfull) coaches and busy with playoffs. On the other hand, it would be great to hire before the draft so the next coach can have his say on what he wants to see drafted. I also think that like that it does add preassure on the players to perform (for a few reasons)

I said a few topics back that I didn't see Farwell retaining him, and I am suprised others didn't.I hope the guy can find a decent job out there and wish the best for him and his family. The truth is he wasn't the coach for this team. I think Tyler himself said he didn't see this team winning a title with Sumner. We never saw much improvement in special teams, we take a lot of off nights, and listening to players outside of the rink not many of them were fond of Rob. We have young talent, sometimes it takes a different approach to get the most out of some guys. Portland has shown that. Our next coach could struggle too, but we have to try something new and get some energy back into this team and fan base soon.

We needed a coaching change,I hope the best for Rob and his future endeavors and also feel energized about the future of this team even if Russ is at the helm steering the ship. I will be keeping a watchful eye on Greg Drinnans blog, he seems to always have good ideas and rumors going.

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Coach Sumner for his professionalism in the face of such disrespectful and distasteful actions of a few fans, who's over inflated sense of self importance gave them the notion to behave like total idiots.It is my sincere hope that this is not the only change made, as I do not believe that any of this teams' problems were 'solved' today.

Farweel made this move 4 years too late! Rejoice to all that made their sensible voices heard. Must have been Sumners lack of professionalism in the heat of the moment that finally was the last straw. His behavior and outbursts he displayed to some of the fans while leaving the ice was to be expected from a coach who had no head coaching experience before this job. Any coach at this level has to expect this behavior from fans after the two last place finishes in two years.

Stop making up stories. He made no such outbursts. I was at the games too. Never saw anything but professionalism from him. What a sad little group of whiners. Don't worry though, you'll get your chance to harrass the next coach as well. Now I know why T-birds fans are always voted as some of the worst in the league. Drove out Nachbaur, now Sumner. I wonder what poor unsuspecting soul will be next?

Seattle sports fans are some of the softest fans in the country. They hold on to past glories and dreams of what could have been. They make excuses for poor performance and rarely hold players or coaches accountable.

"His behavior and outbursts displayed to some fans" Whatever! You're lucky he didn't make signs and stand over you at work, screaming "YOU SUCK" when you're trying to get the fries out of the fryer! After all that's his right as a paying customer.

I have to agree with Seattle sports fans being soft... I understand it's junior hockey but not many other cities accept losing as easily as we do. And the proof is in some of the comments. So many people rush to trash other fans anonymously. Look Sumner had his faults and he paid for it, everything isn't his fault and people know this. He didn't deserve a lot of what was said to him, but in the end I don't know how anybody can sit behind thier keyboard and type that he could turn this team into a championship contender. If anybody took the time to ask the players outside of a team sponsored event they will tell you the same thing. Those that complain about running coaches out have obviously no problem watching our rivals constantly put banners up every year as long as nobody gets thier feelings hurt.... That's just not the way sports work. It's too bad Sumner never could piece it together I thought he would be a success taking over but other teams caught on to his gameplans and he never adjusted we got stale. On that he's still young and I hope he can find a gig that works for him, but hopefully our fans base can move on. There is no need to celebrate his firing, and there is no reason to trash those that support his firing. Just move on and hope that Farwell makes the right choice at head coach.

I don't know how anybody could sit behind their keyboard and think any coach could have turned this team into a contender. I'm glad they are making a coaching change, maybe a new coach can get them to go to the net and protect the crease more. However they haven't dealt with the real issue which is ability to draft talent. Has this been addressed, call me SKEPTICAL as long as Farwell remains as GM. At least some of the younger players are getting ice time which didn't happen much in the past.

I completely agree with you. I harbor no ill will toward Sumner and hope the best for him. People are making it out as if it was EITHER Sumner's fault or Farwell's fault and you have to pick a side. I am hoping that the next coach and Farwell can work together and produce a winning hockey team. More than that, I hope they can produce a team that other teams hate facing, especially on their home ice.

I agree with most of what Jay said with the exception of I believe it IS time to celebrate the firing of the coach! Any change from this organization is a HUGE step. And this change would not have happened without the FANS.